Avoid baggage excess costs Heavy luggage

Opting for extra luggage allowance will cost you

If you're off on holiday abroad and want to take large or heavy baggage with you - golf clubs to the Algarve or your bike to the Tour de France - how do you go about it?

And what if you've found a rug in a Marrakech souk or picked up a Thai Buddha statue in a Bangkok bazaar? How will you get them home? The most straightforward way is to put everything in the hold, but for anything heavy you'll be paying excess baggage charges. There are also separate charging schemes for sports and other specialist equipment.

Consider a service such as First Luggage (www.firstluggage.com) who pick your luggage up from your door and take it all the way to your hotel. Skis and boots from the UK to Chamonix in France cost £93 one way, golf bags from the UK to Portugal cost £81.

Excess baggage tips

Carrying a large load? Before you travel, be aware of the following:

• You can usually pool your baggage allowances among members of your group, but a few airlines - such as Ryanair - don't allow this.
• Ryanair and Flybe even charge for your basic allowance (twice as much if you don't pre-book it).
• Children who have their own seat usually get the full adult allowance, but infants without a seat don't. Some airlines (including BA and Virgin) give a baggage allowance, plus a buggy for babies.
• Not all airlines let you book excess baggage and items, such as skis and bikes, in advance, but if they do, pre booking is advisable. If you are able to pre-book (a few airlines such as Thomsonfly offer discounts for this), still check in as early as possible. And even airlines who do let you pre-book can't always guarantee there will be room for the extra baggage.
• Skis, golf bags and bikes are often carried on a 'limited release' basis. This means that the airline is willing to take them, but won't accept responsibility for any damage which might occur. You may be able to challenge this, based on the fact that the Montreal Convention entitles you to compensation of up to £800 or so for damaged luggage.
• Bikes must be packed: boxed-up with pedals and front wheel removed and handlebars turned sideways.
• Collapsible, non-powered or insulated, dry-cell battery-powered wheelchairs are accepted free of charge. Dialysis machines are generally accepted, while assistance dogs are only permitted on certain airlines and routes. Always speak to your airline in advance.
• Baggage allowances and charges may differ between airlines which codeshare. These depend on who you fly with - not who you book with.
• If you don't want to check a fragile item - such as a musical instrument - into the hold, you may be able to book an extra seat for it.